FALLS CITY – During the Dec. 16 regular meeting the Falls City ISD Board of Trustees approved a spending purpose for a $30,168.45 grant/donation from the Falls City Education Foundation (FCEF).

Falls City ISD teachers had previously filled out grant applications to the FCEF, when the Foundation had asked them about various resources they could use that would enhance the learning experience of the students in their classrooms.

“A large portion of it is going to create an elementary science lab,” said Superintendent Tylor Chaplin regarding the grant. “Over 200 students will be able to benefit from this grant. Basically, everything needed to supply a science lab is being covered in the grant.”

The FCEF grant funds will also be used for the addition of more types of technology, such as microscopes and computers.

“In the last six months the Falls City Education Foundation has donated over $131,000 to the school,” said Chaplin. “It’s a pretty amazing organization that’s been able to help us out a lot.”

The FCEF obtains funds to help the district from donations given by people such as Falls City citizens and alumni, as well as the FCEF holding various fundraisers.

According the FCEF mission statement, the FCEF mission “is to generate and distribute resources to the Falls City Independent School District to enrich and expand programs needed to meet the District’s stated mission, promote excellence in education, inspire learning, and maximize innovative opportunities for all students in the Falls City School District.”

In other matters, the board approved certain changes to the master calendar of the school year. The board allowed for the district to close this past Thursday and Friday so as to allow for all faculty and students the chance to travel and attend the state championship football finals game in Arlington, where the Falls City Beavers faced off against the Wellington Skyrockets for the state championship title.

The make-up days for those two days off will now be Jan. 16 and March 21. Jan 16, a Thursday, was originally a day off due to the annual stock show. There will now be school on that day with an early release at 1 p.m. March 21 had originally been a bad weather make-up day.